ABSTRACTIntroduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive demyelinating and degenerative neurological disease. The degree of disability increases along with pathological damage, especially in cases with comorbidity.Methodology: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of MS alone and with comorbidity on some neuropsychological patterns. Individual quality of life of 80 MS patients at a mean age of 49 years, 56 females and 24 males, was examined by means of Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 Questionnaire (MSQOL-54) in 2002-2015. Forty patients presented with MS alone and 40 with MS and comorbidity. The frequency of troubles of mental concentration/thinking, fixation of attention, and memory as well as of difficulty at work and other activities were examined.Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between patients with MS alone and those with MS and comorbidity concerning troubles of mental concentration/thinking (t=4.822; p<0.0001), and of memory (t=4.020; p<0.0001). Gender correlated negatively with troubles of memory (R=-0.343; r<0.05), while EDSS scores did with troubles of memory (R=-0.346; p<0.05) and with troubles of attention (R=-0.330; p<0.05). The accompanying diseases additionally worsened the components of health-related quality of life.Conclusions: Common comorbidity in MS patients requires careful clinical examinations and proper management in order to reduce the neuropsychological burden and assure a better individual quality of life for the patient.Key words: multiple sclerosis, quality of life, comorbidity, neuropsychological impairmentAbbreviations: Co: comorbidity; EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; MS: multiple sclerosis;
MSQOL-54: Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54

Related Posts

Disclaimer

“The journal is open-access. The journal allows readers to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of its articles and allow readers to use them for any other lawful purpose”.